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Onkyo Details New HT-S9800THX Home Theater System with Dolby Atmos & DTS:X[teaser]A new home-theater-in-a-box system with immersive audio support has been revealed.[/teaser] Onkyo has announced the latest addition to its home audio lineup. The new HT-S9800THX 7.1 Channel A/V Receiver & Speaker Package is now available for an MSRP of $1,399, and serves as the successor to the previously released HT-S9700THX. The HTiB system includes a 210W/ch (6 Ohms) network A/V receiver with a 384 kHz/32-bit (AK4458) DAC, patented VLSC filtering, a high-output EI transformer, audio-grade capacitors, and discrete output transistors. Likewise, the receiver offers support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio formats, along with 4K HDR pass-through, including HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), BT.2020, and 4K/60p/4:4:4/24-bit video through six rear HDCP 2.2 compliant HDMI connections. Bluetooth and 5 GHz/2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with Chromecast built-in, AirPlay, DTS Play-Fi, and FireConnect powered by Blackfire are integrated as well. In addition, the package comes complete with a 7.1 channel speaker array with A-OMF drivers and a separate front-firing subwoofer, allowing customers to configure either a 5.1.2 setup using a pair of the four supplied surrounds in Front Top configuration, or a traditional 7.1 setup with rear surrounds. Finally, the system also includes speaker cables and a setup microphone for the AccuEQ system. Meanwhile, Onkyo has unveiled a new standard 5.1 home theater system as well. The HT-S3900 includes solid, gloss-finished satellite speakers with full-range drivers, a port-loaded down-firing subwoofer, and a 5.1 channel A/V receiver. And though the receiver is not Dolby Atmos or DTS:X compatible, the unit does offer 4K pass-through with High Dynamic Range video (HDR10 and BT.2020 support), HDCP 2.2, and 4K/60 Hz video support. The Onkyo HT-S3900 is now available for an MSRP of $499. Source: OnkyoPosted Mon Jul 3, 2017 at 03:30 PM PDT by: -
Frank Capra's 'Lost Horizon' Headed for an 80th Anniversary Blu-ray Edition this Fall[teaser]The 1937 adventure film will be getting an 80th anniversary Blu-ray edition this October. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is working on 'Lost Horizon: 80th Anniversary Edition' for Blu-ray on October 3. Celebrate the 80th anniversary of the lavishly produced Frank Capra classic, LOST HORIZON, based on the best-selling novel by James Hilton. Ronald Colman and Jane Wyatt star in this unique journey to the enchanted paradise of Shangri-La, where time stands still. Now restored in 4K and featuring an additional minute of rarely seen footage long missing from the film, LOST HORIZON is a sumptuous experience for lifelong fans and newcomers alike. Fully restored in 4K and presented in high definition, the Blu-ray is housed within a lavish, limited edition 24-page Digibook, complete with an all-new essay from film historian Jeremy Arnold and rare archival photos from the film. In addition, as part of the restoration, more than a minute of rarely-seen original footage from the film was found and included, making this the most complete cut of the film in existence. In 2016, the film was selected for inclusion in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Originally released in 1937, the film also nominated for seven Academy Awards. Specs have yet to be revealed, but the release will include the 4K RESTORATION of the film in a Digibook and supplements include: Restoration Audio Commentary; Alternate Ending; Photo Documentary; Restoration: Before and After Comparison; and Theatrical Trailer. You can find the latest specs for 'Lost Horizon: 80th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under October 3. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Jul 3, 2017 at 09:41 AM PDT by: -
Streaming News Roundup: 'She's Gotta Have It,' 'Sense8,' 'Death Note,' and More[teaser]A Sense8 finale and a new Death Note trailer are among the latest streaming announcements.[/teaser] Netflix and Amazon have released new trailers, date announcements, and other info for several of their upcoming shows and movies, including Sense8, Death Note, OZARK, Daughters of Destiny, She's Gotta Have It, and Comrade Detective. Check out a full rundown of the latest streaming news and trailers below: Sense8 (Netflix, Coming Soon) - Following the series' cancellation in June after just two seasons, Netflix has announced plans to produce a special 2-hour finale for Sense8, offering fans some sense of closure for the show. From renowned creative geniuses Lana Wachowski, Grant Hill, and J. Michael Straczynski, Sense8 centers around eight characters, from different parts of the world, who experience a violent vision, and soon find themselves mentally connected by the experience. They become connected, able to see and talk to each other as though they were in the same place, with access to each other's deepest secrets. Not only must the eight adapt to this new ability and to each other, they must figure out why their lives are now in jeopardy. OZARK (Netflix, July 21) - The Byrdes, husband and wife Marty (Jason Bateman) and Wendy (Laura Linney), their teenage kids Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) and Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) -- are for all intents and purposes an ordinary family. Ordinary save for Marty’s job: The top money launderer for the second largest drug cartel in Mexico. Daughters of Destiny (Netflix, July 28) - Since 1997, the Shanti Bhavan school has provided free education for some of India's most impoverished and underrepresented children – the "poorest of the poor." In Daughters of Destiny: The Journey of Shanti Bhavan, director Vanessa Roth tells viewers the unforgettable story of a school that has changed countless lives for the better. With any luck, it might even inspire others to do the same. Death Note (Netflix, August 25) - What if you had the power to decide who lives and who dies? We suggest you obey the rules. Based on the famous Japanese manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds within it a great power; if the owner inscribes someone's name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life. The Netflix original film is directed by Adam Wingard (Blair Witch) and stars Nat Wolff (Paper Towns), Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers), Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out), Paul Nakauchi (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Shea Whigham (American Hustle) and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man). She's Gotta Have It (Netflix, Thanksgiving) - Nola Darling is back. See her struggle to define herself and divide her time among friends, job, and three lovers in this new take on Spike Lee's classic film. Comrade Detective (Amazon Prime Video, August 4) - A one-of-a-kind cop show and comedy set in 1980's Romania. True to its nostalgic inspiration, the series is presented in Romanian and dubbed in English—as a Romanian show of that time would have been. Channing Tatum (Logan Lucky) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper) provide voice over dubbing performances for the series' two leading roles, Detectives Gregor Anghel and Iosef Baciu—both characters played on screen by leading Romanian actors, Florin Piersic Jr. (Killing Time) and Corneliu Ulici (The Devil Inside). Additional dubbing comes courtesy of Jeny Slate, Chloë Sevigny, Jake Johnson, Jason Mantzoukas, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, Kim Basinger, Mahershala Ali, Tracey Letts, Bobby Cannavale, Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger, Mark Duplass, Katie Aselton Duplass, Jerrod Carmichael, Bo Burnham, and John Early. "In a world of global television it was inevitable that the best comedy of the year would come from Romania. Well that day has come," said Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy, Drama and VR at Amazon Studios. "Comrade Detective is unbelievably compelling, visually brilliant, and Gregor and Iosef are the heroes we need. Thanks to A24, Channing Tatum, Rhys Thomas, Brian Gatewood, Alex Tanaka, as well as the incredibly creative team behind this wild new series." Finally, TEN: The Enthusiast Network’s Motor Trend OnDemand automotive SVOD service has added two top UK hosts, Tiff Needell and Jonny Smith, to its talent roster. Likewise, the platform recently shot the opening of the first episode of its newest exclusive show, Forbidden Drives, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 30. Forbidden Drives was created for those who want what they can't have. While Motor Trend drives and tests countless cars each year, there are always a precious few that, for various reasons, never get sold everywhere around the world, modern-day legends, automotive cars that remain tantalizingly out of reach for many buyers and enthusiasts. On the newest exclusive addition to Motor Trend On Demand's innovative programming line-up, hosts Tiff Needell and Jonny Smith travel the world to track down and drive these four-wheel rarities to decide which cars are truly worthy of their unattainable status. Motor Trend On Demand provides access to more than 2,000 hours of content with live streaming, archive material, original shows, and a schedule of racing events. Available real-time motorsport racing and enthusiast events include Pirelli World Challenge, Blancpain GT Series, DTM, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and Goodwood Festival of Speed. Likewise, Motor Trend OnDemand provides exclusive first-look access, bonus episodes, and behind-the-scenes footage from its popular lineup of original programming like 'Roadkill,' 'Head 2 Head,' 'Dirt Every Day,' 'Ignition,' 'Hot Rod Garage,' and more. - A current Netflix subscription starts at $10 for HD streaming and $12 for Ultra HD streaming. - A current Amazon Prime subscription costs $99 per year or $11 per month. Likewise, Prime Instant Video is available as a standalone service for $9 per month. Sources: Netflix (YouTube), Amazon, Motor Trend OnDemandPosted Mon Jul 3, 2017 at 09:20 AM PDT by: -
4K Preview: Kong: Skull Island in Dolby Vision & Dolby AtmosHopefully, everyone's having a safe and festive Holiday weekend here in the US (for our international readers, Happy Regular Old Monday!). We're two weeks out from Kong: Skull Island landing on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, a 4K/3D Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook, Blu-ray 3D, and Blu-ray (there may be other exclusives, but those are the big ones), and I wanted to give you a quick preview of what to expect from a visual and audio standpoint. [Teaser]This 4K preview is based on the VUDU UHD version of the film, which is presented in 2D with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos hemispherical surround sound, both of which elevate the action-packed monster mayhem to demo-worthy levels.[/Teaser] More on this in a second. How's the movie? Oh my god, SO SO FUN! I'll leave the full in-depth reviews to Phil Brown, who covered the theatrical release HERE, and Moises E. Duarte, who will be reviewing the flick across various physical media formats, but I think Phil's punny subtitle sums up the experience perfectly: "Apeocalypse Now" Imagine the Vietnam War tropes established in Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece fused with your favorite Kaiju Movie. It's a non-stop thrill-ride of exotic locations and nasty beasties fighting for a chance to eat our human characters, who are just specific and empathetic enough for us to care about them while they crash and run and hide and fight back with flamethrowers and machine guns. It's not quite an elevated affair, a monster movie that transcends its genre, but if you grew up watching Godzilla movies and enjoyed the universe established with Gareth Edwards' Godzilla in 2014, I think you'll enjoy this one too. Much like Pacific Rim, Kong: Skull Island taps into the sensation of being a kid when watching monsters felt larger than life itself, dare I say REAL, even if some of the set-pieces are a touch too long. Still, I liked it even more than the recent Godzilla reboot, which was a too dour and serious at times for me, and hope Legendary keeps going with their monster universe. Either way, Kong: Skull Island gets two paws up for well-crafted spectacle and overall fun factor. DOLBY VISION [UPDATED 7/17/17]: There was a rumor that Kong: Skull Island's 4K Blu-ray would be in Dolby Vision too, but this did not turn out to be true, which is a shame because VUDU's 4K Dolby Vision presentation is FANTASTIC. [END UPDATE] Dolby Vision best shows its visual might with aggressive color palettes, and Kong Skull Island oozes color from the very first frame. With lush green jungles and a warm, almost-sepia-but-also-almost-puke-green grading, the movie is awash in colors you won't see on standard dynamic range displays. Everything from John Goodman's yellow cab to the orange storm of ballooning fireballs to Kong's midnight-black fur look is bright and brilliant and eye-popping. Blacks levels and contrast are also on point, delivering both on shadow details and specular highlights. Compared to the standard HDX (1080p) presentation, the Dolby Vision iteration not only looks more pleasing to the eye thanks to its wider color gamut, but I would argue the visual effects look more weighted. Now, I have pretty spectacular Internet (around 200Mbps), so I generally have no troubles running VUDU UHD, as was the case here, but if Kong looks this great on streaming, I can only imagine what the full 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will look like in HDR10 and/or Dolby Vision. Exciting stuff. Definitely an impending demo disc, no matter what format you buy. DOLBY ATMOS Kong: Skull Island's Dolby Atmos mix isn't the best I've ever heard, but it's very aggressive throughout and comes a few pegs short of reference titles like Mad Max: Fury Road, Pacific Rim, and Gravity. Outside of noting that this isn't one of the greatest sound mixes of all time, Kong: Skull Island offers a wonderful sense of hemispherical immersion. Helicopters fly overhead and around the room. Monsters stomp and roar and fight above your head. Bullets and bombs fly in all directions. And, Henry Jackson's classical-yet-modern score envelopes like you're in the middle of a symphony. All of it works together to haul you out of your seat and into the movie's sonic universe. Yes, the movie's visuals are often breathtaking, but it's Dolby Atmos that gives Kong: Skull Island its scope, with each new action set-piece presenting another demo-worthy sequence to wow audiophiles and show off your Dolby Atmos system. BONUS FEATURES Unlike some recent films -- like The LEGO Batman Movie -- Kong: Skull Island does not feature what VUDU calls Extras+ with your UHD purchase (or, at least, nothing showed up in my account). I'm not sure if this will remain true after street date, but there's nothing to watch here unlike, say, the iTunes (HD only) version which includes "almost an hour of iTunes Extras." FINAL THOUGHTS I didn't really know what to expect going into Kong: Skull Island, but this monster movie is an inventive genre mashup that 's sometimes clever, sometimes dumb, but always a whole lot of fun. If you enjoyed Gareth Edwards' Godzilla or grew up with loving monster movies, you'll probably enjoy this one too. In terms of value in purchasing the VUDU UHD version, at this point it makes more sense to hold off and wait for the 4K Blu-ray (pre-order HERE) or 4K/3D Best Buy SteelBook (pre-order HERE). That way, you'll get the 4K disc, a Blu-ray HD copy, all the bonus features, AND access to this VUDU UHD version with Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos... HOWEVER, PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN REDEEMING YOUR DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET REDEMPTION CODE. Sorry for the all-caps, but I didn't want anyone to miss the warning. I recently redeemed our UHD code for The LEGO Batman Movie directly on the VUDU website and, even though some others have done so successfully, I only ended up with the HDX version in My Movies. I believe some of our readers have experienced similar with other Warners titles as well, which is a shame. The fix? 1) MAKE SURE you follow the redemption instructions exactly as they are on the paper-insert and it should work out fine (it'll most likely be a wb.com/redeemdigital link). 2) If something goes wrong, reach out to WB Movies All Access (fka Flixster) to help correct the error. They actually have pretty fantastic customer service (VUDU was useless because they're limited by their studio contracts) and were able to fix my LEGO Batman UHD issue. Either way, get excited, monster movie fans. Kong: Skull Island will be here soon so, if you haven't already done so, please consider supporting us by Pre-Ordering your copy directly through High-Def Digest (links above). It doesn't cost you a single cent extra, and is a big help for us. Cheers and thanks so much for reading!Posted Mon Jul 3, 2017 at 08:22 AM PDT by: -
HD Gear News Roundup: Xiaomi Laser Projector, Sharp OLED Production, and More[teaser]We've compiled the latest gear news, including an HD laser projector, reports on Sharp's OLED plans, the return of the Galaxy Note 7, and app updates. [/teaser] From product announcements and streaming app updates to general industry news and recent gear trends, keeping up with the latest tech news can be a daunting task. With that in mind, we're here to offer you a roundup of some of the latest gear and consumer electronics news that you may have missed. For this edition, we're covering Xiaomi's new 1080p laser projector, news on Sharp's plans for OLED production, the return of Samsung's Galaxy Note 7, an updated PS4 entertainment interface, and new channels for the DirectTV Now streaming service. So, without further ado, here's a rundown of some of the latest gear and tech news: Xiaomi Details Ultra Short Throw 1080p Mi Laser Projector Xiaomi has revealed its latest projector for the Chinese market. The new Mi Laser Projector aims to bring cinema quality picture to the home theater through laser light tech. The device uses custom DLP tech developed by Texas Instruments along with ALPD 3.0 laser light source technology rated for more than 25,000 hours of use. The ultra short throw projector can produce screen sizes as large as 150" from just 2"-20" from the wall. In addition, the unit provides 5,000 lumens of brightness, a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, and more than 85% coverage of the NTSC color gamut. And though listed as only projecting up to 1080p resolution, the site does mention some kind of support for HDR (high dynamic range) images. Under the hood, the projector is powered by Android and uses the same interface as the company's Mi TV streaming box. Three HDMI connections and integrated speakers are featured as well. The Mi Laser Projector is set to launch in China for 9,999 yuan (about $1,470). There's no word on potential US availability. Sources: Xiaomi, Engadget, GSM Arena Sharp Reportedly Plans OLED Production According to a report from The Japan Times, Sharp is gearing up to develop large screen OLED panels. The proposed plans will cost about ¥57.4 billion and will involve building production lines for OLEDs at the Japanese company's plants in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, and Taki, Mie Prefecture. Production will include mass producing small and mid-size OLED screens for use in mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Likewise, Sharp plans to produce large screen OLED panels for TVs at the Sakai plant. The OLED production lines are expected to start operations by June of 2018. Currently, LG is the main manufacturer of large-screen OLED panels, producing screens for its own displays and other brands, including Sony. Sharp is now owned by Foxconn, but the US rights to the brand remain with Hisense following an acquisition deal in 2015. With that said, Foxconn is now trying to reclaim use of the Sharp name in the US. Beyond future OLED production, the company is also developing 8K LCD TVs. Sources: Japan Times via Engadget Samsung Set to Release Refurbished Galaxy Note 7 Smartphones Following a product recall back in October of 2016 due to batteries prone to overheating and fire risks, Samsung is gearing up to relaunch sales of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone with a special refurbished Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition. The smartphones will use new batteries that have passed new safety tests with a lower capacity than the original models, and will otherwise be constructed from recalled Note 7 units and unused Note 7 parts. The Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition phones are set to go on sale in South Korea on July 7 for about 30% less than the original MSRP. Samsung may also expand availability to other markets but has no plans to offer the refurbished models in the US. Beyond the Note 7, Reuters reports that the company plans to unveil the new Galaxy Note 8 in August. Source: Reuters Sony Launches Updated PS4 TV & Video Experience Sony has announced an upgrade for the PlayStation 4 console's TV & Video Entertainment experience. The new interface brings together content from all of the PS4's different video apps into one location. With the new TV & Video section, PS4 users can now browse through titles from all their free and paid streaming services together in one location, instead of having to open each individual app. The new interface includes a section for "Featured" content with trending TV shows across different entertainment apps, and access to a customer's "My Videos" library from the PlayStation Store. The redesigned TV & Entertainment interface is now available in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom. Sources: Sony, Engadget DirecTV Now Expands Live Local Channel Lineup AT&T has announced an expansion of its DirecTV Now live local TV lineup for several markets. The rollout will include additional ABC, NBC and FOX affiliates, more than doubling its number of supported local stations since the platform's launch back in November of 2016. "We are pleased to add additional content to the DIRECTV NOW offering by more than doubling our live local channels lineup today," said Daniel York, Chief Content Officer for AT&T. "We will keep the momentum going, and have plans to keep the number of local channels growing on DIRECTV NOW." Some live local channel updates include: - Expansion of ABC to more than 30 new markets, including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth and Boston. - Expansion of NBC to 4 new markets, including Kansas City, MO., Salt Lake City, Milwaukee and West Palm Beach, FL. - Expansion of FOX to Juneau, AK. DirecTV Now is a stand-alone streaming platform that provides access to a variety of live channels and on-demand content through several programming packages starting at $35 per month. Here's a rundown of current plans and pricing: - Live a Little – $35 / month (60+ channels)- Just Right – $50 / month (80+ channels)- Go Big – $60 / month (100+ channels)- Gotta Have it – $70 / month (120+ channels) For a full list of local channel availability check out www.directvnow.com. Source: AT&TPosted Sun Jul 2, 2017 at 07:00 PM PDT by: -
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray News Roundup: 'Split,' 'Get Out,' 'Minions,' and More[teaser]Mummies, monsters, and minions are all creeping toward 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in September.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases from Universal Studios. Here's a full rundown of all the recently revealed title announcements: The animated flick Minions starring Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, and Steve Coogan will arrive on September 5. Supplements will include: -Mini-Movies-Deleted Scene - Me, Myself and Stuart-Around the World Interactive Map-Behind the Goggles - The Illumination Story of the Minions-Jingle Bells Minion Style-The Secret Life of Pets Theatrical Trailer Order the Blu-ray In addition, the studio is preparing several titles for a September 12 release. Here's the full lineup... Gary Shore's Dracula Untold starring Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon, and Charles Dance. The Ultra HD Blu-ray disc will feature a DTS:X soundtrack and supplements will include: -Feature Commentary with Director Gary Shore and Production Designer François Audouy-Luke Evans: Creating a Legend-Alternate Opening with Optional Commentary by Director Gary Shore and Production Designer François Audouy-Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Gary Shore and Production Designer François Audouy-Day in the Life - Luke Evans-Dracula Retold-Slaying 1000-The Land of Dracula Order the Blu-ray Jordan Peele's Get Out starring Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Catherine Keener. The Ultra HD Blu-ray disc will feature a DTS:X soundtrack and supplements will include: -Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Jordan Peele-Alternate Ending with Optional Commentary by Writer/Director Jordan Peele-Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Writer/Director Jordan Peele-Unveiling the Horror of Get Out-Q&A Discussion with Writer/Director Jordan Peele and the Cast Order the Blu-ray Stephen Sommers' The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, and The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor starring Brendan Fraser will all get standalone releases. The Ultra HD Blu-ray discs will feature DTS:X soundtracks and supplements will likely mirror those found on the previously released Ultimate Trilogy collection. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray M. Night Shyamalan's Split starring James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy. The Ultra HD Blu-ray disc will feature a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track and supplements will include: -Alternate Ending-Deleted Scenes-The Making of Split-The Many Faces of James McAvoy-The Filmmaker's Eye: M. Night Shyamalan Order the Blu-ray Stephen Sommers' Van Helsing starring Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, and Richard Roxburgh. The Ultra HD Blu-ray disc will feature a DTS:X track and supplements will include: -Van Helsing: The Story, The Life, The Legend-Track the Adventure-Bringing the Monsters to Life-You Are in the Movie!-The Music of Van Helsing-Bloopers-Dracula's Lair is Transformed-The Masquerade Ball Scene "Unmasked"-The Art of Van Helsing-Monster Eggs-Feature Commentary with Director Stephen Sommers and Editor/Producer Bob Ducsay-Feature Commentary with Richard Roxburgh, Shuler Henley and Will Kemp Order the Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Fri Jun 30, 2017 at 05:00 PM PDT by: -
'Despicable Me 3' Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D & 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Up for Pre-Order[teaser]The animated comedy is now up for preorder at Amazon.[/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is preparing to release Despicable Me 3 for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D later this year. Gru (voice of Steve Carell) battles Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker), a 1980s child star-turned-supervillain, in this animated sequel. Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove, Kristen Wiig, Steve Coogan, and Dana Gaier also return to reprise their characters from prior installments. No other details have been released at this time. You can find the latest specs for Despicable Me 3 linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING. Order the Ultra HD Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the 3D Blu-rayPosted Fri Jun 30, 2017 at 11:47 AM PDT by: -
Blu-ray News Roundup: 'Star Wars Rebels,' 'Narcos,' and More[teaser]Jedi, superheroes, and drug lords are all heading to Blu-ray.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming Blu-ray releases from Vinegar Syndrome, Warner Bros., Disney, Universal, Cinedigm, Lionsgate, Garagehouse Pictures, and Kino. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, Cinedigm will release Jason Bourque's Drone starring Sean Bean, Patrick Sabongui, Mary McCormack, and Joel David Moore on July 4. No other details have been announced so far. Order the Blu-ray As previously reported, Vinegar Syndrome is preparing David Beaird's My Chauffeur starring Deborah Foreman, Sam J. Jones, Penn & Teller, and Sean McClory for Blu-ray, and now the release date has been announced as July 25. Supplements will include: -"License to Drive" - Interview with star Deborah Foreman-Commentary track with: David Beaird (writer/director) & Leland Crooke (co-star)-Commentary track with: Jeff McKay (production assistant)-Isolated Soundtrack-Original Theatrical Trailer-Behind the scenes still gallery-Multiple tv spots-Reversible cover artwork by Derek Gabryszak Order the Blu-ray As previously reported, Warner Bros. is set to bring J. Mills Goodloe's Everything, Everything starring Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, and Ana de la Reguera to Blu-ray, and now the release date has been announced as August 15. Supplements will include: -Trapped in Love: The Story of Everything, Everything-Deleted Scenes In addition, the studio will release The DC Universe Original Movies: 10th Anniversary Collection on November 7. The animated 30-film box-set will include: -Superman: Doomsday-Justice League: The New Frontier-Batman: Gotham Knight-Wonder Woman Commemorative Edition-Green Lantern: First Flight-Superman/Batman: Public Enemies-Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths-Batman: Under The Red Hood-Superman/Batman: Apocalypse-All-Star Superman-Green Lantern: Emerald Knights-Batman: Year One-Justice League: Doom-Superman Vs. The Elite-The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1-The Dark Knights Returns, Part 2-Superman: Unbound-Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox-Justice League: War-Son Of Batman-Batman: Assault On Arkham-Justice League: Throne Of Atlantis-Batman Vs. Robin-Justice League: Gods And Monsters-Batman: Bad Blood-Justice League Vs. Teen Titans-Batman: The Killing Joke-Justice League Dark-Teen Titans: The Judas Contract-Batman And Harley Quinn Order the Blu-ray Disney is bringing Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season Three starring Freddie Prinze Jr., David Oyelowo, Taylor Gray, Tiya Sircar, and Steve Blum to Blu-ray on August 29. Supplements will include: -Return To Mandalore - Explore where Mandalore fits within the Empire's regime – and whether Sabine can unite her people against the Imperial forces.-Thrawn: A Legend Reborn - Learn Thrawn's significance in Star Wars lore, and what the future may hold for this memorable villain.-Apprentices to Outcasts: Kenobi And Maul - Track two adversaries who've clashed throughout Star Wars history, and find out why the time was right to conclude their story.-The Original Rebel: Saw Gerrera Returns – Extended - Meet the Original Rebel. This exclusive extended version features Forest Whitaker discussing the character he brings to life in both Rebels and Rogue One.-Five Audio Commentaries - Featuring Dave Filoni (Executive Producer), Justin Ridge (Supervising Director), Kilian Plunkett (Art Director), Keith Kellogg (Animation Supervisor) and Joel Aron (CG Supervisor: Lighting & FX) Likewise, the studio will release Chuan Lu's nature documentary Born in China on August 29 as well. Supplements will include: -Panda Suits & Bamboo Shoots – Join the team as they struggle through an almost impenetrable bamboo forest in an effort to capture footage of pandas in the wild.-Walking with Monkeys – The shivering crew bundles up to film the adorable golden snub-nosed monkeys engaged in a surprisingly human activity.-Masters of Camouflage – Go behind the scenes as the filmmakers set out on a quest never before achieved: to find and film a snow leopard family in the wild.-Wading Through Wetlands – A crew travels to far northeast China to catch the first moments of a red-crowned crane chick's life.-"Everything Everything" Music Video Performed by American Authors – check out the full music -video of American Authors end-credit song "Everything Everything."-Disneynature: Get Inspired, Get Involved –Join Disneynature and the Disney Conservation as they thank our audiences and the animals who star in the films for helping to make Disneynature and its conservation efforts a success. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Lionsgate is prepping Alex Kalymnios and Jamie Payne's miniseries The White Princess starring Katie Powles, Jodie Comer, Jacob Collins-Levy, and Michelle Fairley for Blu-ray on August 29. No other details have been announced at this time. In addition, the studio will bring Narcos: Complete Season Two starring Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, and Pedro Pascal to Blu-ray on September 5. Supplements will include: -Audio Commentary with Director Andrés Baiz, Producer Eric Newman, and Actor Wagner Moura-"Unredacted: Declassifying Narcos: Season Two" Featurette-Deleted Scenes Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Universal is preparing Roel Reine's Dead Again in Tombstone starring Danny Trejo, Jake Busey, Elysia Rotaru, and Dean McDermott for Blu-ray on September 12. Supplements will include: -Resurrecting the Western: Making Dead Again in Tombstone-Home in Tombstone: Danny Trejo as Guerrero-Deleted Shots Montage-Feature Commentary with Director Roel Reine, Editor Radu Ion, Director of Photography Rolf Dekens, Writer Ethan Wiley, and Grid VFX CEO Jan Goossen Order the Blu-ray Garagehouse Pictures is set to release Chris Robinson's The Intruder starring Mickey Rooney, Yvonne DeCarlo, Ted Cassidy, and George De Vries on Blu-ray later this year. Supplements will include: -Audio commentary with Chris Robinson-Archival interview with Chris Robinson-Liner notes-Garagehouse Pictures trailers Finally, Kino has announced plans to bring Billy Wilder's Avanti! starring Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills, and Clive Revill to Blu-ray in October. No other details have been announced at this time. You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Thu Jun 29, 2017 at 09:30 PM PDT by: -
Countdown to Amazon Prime Day[teaser]Amazon's annual deals event will return on July 10 - July 11.[/teaser] Amazon has announced a launch date for its third annual Prime Day event. The special sale will feature 30 hours of deals starting at 6pm PT/9pm ET on Monday, July 10 with hundreds of thousands of discounts exclusively for Prime members around the world. New deals will go live as often as every five minutes, and the event has expanded to cover 13 countries, including the US, UK, Spain, Mexico, Japan, Italy, India, Germany, France, China, Canada, Belgium, and Austria. "Our members love Prime Day and we have been thrilled by the response over the last two years. It is inspiring us to make it even better this year for Prime members," said Greg Greeley, Vice President, Amazon Prime. "Every part of our business is working to deliver more deals for a record number of shoppers. This year's Prime Day is too big for 24 hours – so we're giving Prime members 30 hours to shop!" This year's Prime Day offers new options for personalization and deal watching. Here's a full rundown of the event's highlights: 30 Hours to Shop - Prime Day will start at 6pm PT/9pm ET on Monday, July 10, giving Prime members 30 hours to shop. Explore Deals You're Into - Find deals organized by more than 20 of the most-shopped-for themes. From pet lovers to gardeners and techies to artists – find your deals even faster. Voice Shopping - There will be even more Alexa-exclusive deals for members with an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Amazon Tap, compatible Fire TV or Fire tablet. Watch A Deal - The Amazon App allows early deal watching in every country. Preview, track, and shop deals while at home or on-the-go with deal alerts on the Amazon App. Learn more at amazon.com/watched. Amazon Global Store - Prime members in China and Mexico will be able to shop both local deals as well as select deals from other countries from the Amazon Global Store. Amazon’s Big TV Deal - Prime Day will include amazing TV deals, with a variety of great brands including the all new Element 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV - Amazon Fire TV Edition. Amazon is planning one of its largest total volume TV deals in history with a record level of inventory but once again, the TV deals will likely sell out. And though the main event won't kick off until the evening of July 10, Amazon will also be offering exclusive promotions and deals for Prime members everyday leading up to the event, including today! Here's a rundown of today's special offers: Amazon Music Unlimited - Prime members who haven’t yet tried Amazon Music Unlimited can get the best deal in Amazon Music history – four months of the full catalog on-demand service with access to tens of millions of songs, for just $0.99. Prime Video - Get $10 to shop on Amazon.com anytime on or before Prime Day when you stream a video included in Prime for the first time on your TV. Restrictions apply. Stream award-winning and critically acclaimed Amazon Original Series and Movies as well as thousands of other popular titles included with your Prime membership. Kindle Unlimited - Prime members can save up to 40% on a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy unlimited reading from over one million titles on any device. Audible - Enjoy the world’s largest library of audiobooks plus original audio programming from Audible for 40% off your first 6 months (just $8.95/month for 6 months). Everyday Essentials - Prime members can save up to 35% off with onsite coupons on select food and household items in Prime Pantry. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more daily Countdown to Amazon Prime Day deals and for full sales coverage during the Prime Day event starting at 6pm PT/9pm ET on Monday, July 10! A current Amazon Prime membership starts at $99 per year or $11 per month. The service includes: -Free Two-Day shipping -Unlimited movies and TV shows, including HD, Ultra HD & HDR (when available) -Unlimited music streaming -Unlimited reading on any device -Free unlimited photo storage -Free Same-Day Delivery in eligible areas Source: AmazonPosted Thu Jun 29, 2017 at 12:35 PM PDT by: -
Hands On First Look: Riva WAND Series Wireless Speakers[teaser]With an emphasis on audio quality, the new wireless speakers aim to blend convenience with premium performance.[/teaser] Last week, High-Def Digest was invited to attend a hands-on first look demo of Riva Audio's new lineup of wireless multi-room speakers. Dubbed the WAND Series, the collection includes the compact Arena and larger table-top Festival speakers. Held at the Gansevoort Hotel in NYC, the demonstration covered a variety of audio clips, streaming sources, and features, offering an enticing peek at what both models can do. Likewise, the company's founder, Rikki Farr, and President/Chief Engineer, Donald North, were both on hand to guide the demo and answer any questions. THE BASICS Founded by Rikki Farr -- known for his storied work as a live concert producer for a dizzying array of legendary artists, including The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, and The Who -- Riva Audio was born from a desire to create a premium yet still affordable alternative to lesser "tin-can" wireless speakers. In essence, the company aims to use its extensive industry experience and passion for the medium to recreate the "truth of the music" and the rich feel of a live performance while maintaining the convenience and space-saving aspects of all the best wireless Lifestyle technologies. According to Farr, if Sonos is the "Prius" of the wireless audio industry, then Riva is positioning itself as the "Tesla" brand. To help set the course for this goal, Riva first hit the scene with the Turbo X in 2014 and the Riva S in 2015, establishing its place in the market with two high quality Bluetooth speakers. And now the company is officially launching the next phase of its product lineup: The Riva WAND Series. Expanding playback support beyond Bluetooth to include Wi-Fi, Chromecast Built-in, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, DLNA, and integration with the Google Home app, the new Arena and Festival models let users stream music from an extensive collection of sources and apps, along with multi-room audio capabilities. Here's a rundown of key features and specs per Riva: ■ Proprietary transducers capable of producing big sound from a small form factor. ■ RIVA’s patented Trillium™ audio technology up mixes a traditional two channel stereo signal into a true left, center, right experience to create an immersive stereophonic image much larger than the actual speaker size. ■ Hi-resolution audio with support up to 24-bit /192kHz. ■ Designed with an open architecture to connect via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, AirPlay™, DDMS; DLNA and more. ■ Connect up to 32 speakers across multiple zones. ■ Works with multiple content sources including local, AUX, optical (Festival), media server and USB content, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, and your third party apps for unlimited content sources. ■ WAND is Chromecast built-in ready to use with the Google Home app for quick and easy set up. ■ Easily control your speakers with apps you already know and love from your smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer. ■ Optional battery pack gives you up to 20+ hours of listening time, no power required. (Arena Model) ■ Water resistance allows you to take it to the lake, pool, beach and more. (Arena Model) ■ Away mode allows you to create your own network of one or more WAND speaker[s] when there is no Wi-Fi network available so you can take the party anywhere. ARENA Serving as the lineup's compact model, the Arena is suitable for both in-home use and portable, outdoor playback thanks to an optional 20+ hour battery pack. The speaker features fullrange custom ADX drivers with 3 passive radiators to create up to 101dB. And while that all might sound pretty good on paper, just how good does it actually sound? Well, for demo purposes, Riva first streamed an instrumental jazz track through Spotify. With rich, deep resonance behind each bass line, the track filled the room with impressive presence and clarity, allowing each instrument to shine without the low-end drowning out or the high-end shrieking. To demonstrate more of the speaker's precision, a track with distinct dropping, rolling, and clicking effects was played. Once again, the Arena handled the audio with appropriate detail. Additional music styles were played as well, and even with compressed material from Spotify, the speaker's sonic profile presented a pleasing sense of balance and range, belying its small size. Likewise, walking around the medium-sized hotel room and listening to the music in different spots revealed a surprisingly consistent sound. Sure, certain areas did sound a tad better than others, but in general the compact speaker provided a robust listening experience throughout the entire space. And if a single Arena just isn't enough for your needs, multiple units can also be linked together. To demo this feature, an additional Arena was placed on the opposite end of the room and both devices played back the same streaming track. The dual speakers complemented each other very well with no discernable sync issues. And though the demo kept both speakers in individual stereo modes, two units can also be paired together for separate left and right playback to create an even wider soundstage. The Riva Arena is now available for an MSRP of $249 in black with a titanium grill or white with a silver grill. In addition, the optional battery pack is available in black or white for $99. FESTIVAL Stepping things up a notch, Riva also brought out its beautiful Festival table-top speaker. Designed for in home-use, the unit features an interior MDF cabinet to reduce vibrations and colorations, and 6 custom ADX woofers and tweeters coupled with 4 passive radiators to offer up to 106dB of output without dynamic range compression and bass as low as 38Hz. With the speaker handsomely placed atop a stand and the volume upped to the max, the demo started with a track from Thomas Newman's score for American Beauty. As an orchestra of instruments filled the room, each element of the audio came through with strong bass, clean highs, and surprisingly wide stereo separation, highlighting small nuances, gentler notes, and more aggressive cues with appropriate emphasis. Moving on, we next played a jazz piece titled "Chicken Feathers" and it's here where I first started to really hear Riva's efforts to recreate the feel of a live performance pay off. The plucking bass line had a natural resonance and there were times when the Festival's sonics really did start to evoke the acoustic quality of an actual club stage. This continued with a rendition of Crazy by jazz pianist/vocalist Diana Krall. The delicate, lush vocals carried a warm sense of dimension while also hinting at the type of reverb one would hear during a live performance with no sign of brittleness, making it almost feel like I was right there in the room with the artist. There was maybe a tiny inkling of harshness as the low-end met the vocals, but by and large the range and balance here blew away other typical wireless speakers of this size, calling to mind much larger and much more expensive tower speaker systems. Giving a more modern track a try, we also sampled a song by The Shins, and the band's melodic indie rock style came through with spacious separation, once again demonstrating very solid stereo imaging -- especially considering the single cabinet nature and small width of the speaker. In addition, I also got to sample a high resolution audio track featuring a cello and piano piece. Instrumentals were distinct with a pleasingly full range capable of both quiet and loud moments without any of the flatness one finds in lower quality speakers, though I did detect what sounded like some very minor and fleeting distortion in the highs. Next, we switched gears a bit to demo the WAND Series' robust app and casting support, allowing me to get a bit more hands on by using my own Android smartphone as the streaming source for the speaker. After a quick and painless connection process to the Festival through the Google Home app, I first attempted to play some MP3 tracks from the local storage on my phone through the Google Play Music app. And though the app was able to recognize the speaker, we unfortunately ran into a strange hiccup which resulted in an error screen every time I tried to cast a song. It's unclear exactly what the cause was, but it appears there might be a specific limitation tied to the Play Music app that requires casted music to be in the cloud and not on local storage. Thankfully, after that momentary setback, I booted up the AllConnect app on my phone instead, and this time there were no issues to speak of. I was able to easily connect to the Festival over Wi-Fi and then play an MP3 of Radiohead's "Life in a Glasshouse" from my smartphone storage. Like the previous demo material, the track sounded great. And while users should be able to cast streaming and locally stored audio directly through many popular apps like AllConnect, Riva is set to release its own dedicated mobile app for playback as well. The Riva Festival is now available in black with a titanium grill or white with a silver grill for $499. FINAL THOUGHTS As with any demo I experience, more time with the product is needed to form any kind of full opinion -- but my taste of Riva's new WAND Series has definitely left me wanting more. There were instances during the demonstration when the speakers really did start to mimic the tonal quality of a live concert, creating a level of performance that is quite special for a wireless multi-room speaker in this price-range. And beyond the WAND Series, Riva also has some exciting additional products in the pipeline, including its first foray into the home theater space. Wireless 5.1 capabilities and a genuine TheaterBar are in the works, bringing Riva's emphasis on audio quality, affordability, and convenience to the world of surround sound. For now, though, the Riva WAND Series is set to bring an impressive combination of quality and value to the growing multi-room audio market -- and if the demo I heard is any indication, the Festival and Arena should have no problem standing out from the pack.Posted Thu Jun 29, 2017 at 09:45 AM PDT by:
